New Plug-In Framework Complements Enhancements to REST Support in Latest SoapUI Pro 5.1

Beverly, MA — July 15, 2014 —SmartBear Software, the choice of more than two million software professionals for building and delivering the world’s best applications, has released a new version of SoapUI Pro, including a new plug-in framework that allows users to create, browse and install plug-ins for SoapUI Pro’s API testing functionality. Just last month, SoapUI Pro was awarded the top honor of Dr. Dobb’s Jolt Award in the Best Testing Tools category.

API design and testing has become increasingly complicated in recent years with the advent of the API economy and the Internet of Things (IoT), both driving rapid development and adoption of APIs. The API technologies continue to evolve as well, creating a complex map of testing and development concerns. Being confined to out-of-the-box functionality for any development tool can force process and technology choices that are suboptimal for an organization. This is especially true in the world of APIs where the choices impact an organization’s ability to respond to market demands and evolving capabilities.

SoapUI Pro’s new plug-in architecture makes extending the tool fast and easy. The simplified plug-in framework uses annotation-based extension points instead of XML configuration files and provides automatic installation of any third-party dependencies. To get started faster, SoapUI Pro includes an extensive sample plug-in project that models the various aspects of the framework and is available on GitHub. Once you’ve built your plug-in, you can share it via the improved integration with SoapUI Pro’s user interface, so other SoapUI Pro users are able to find and install the plug-in quickly and easily.

SoapUI Pro 5.1 provides enhancements that further its support of REST APIs, including “point and click” testing for JSON, which allows choosing assertions and transfer properties from a right-click selection menu. It includes a redesigned starter page with Quick Launch links for select features and Find It Fast videos that provide one-minute highlights of certain features.

“SoapUI Pro’s improved plug-in interface allows our users to customize the product to fit their needs and furthers our commitment to our tester and developer ecosystem,” said Lorinda Brandon, Sr. Product Marketing Manager, API Products at SmartBear. “New users will love the Quick Launch and Find It Fast sections of the starter page, which helps to navigate some of the most compelling features of the product. Experienced SoapUI Pro users, who have always wanted that one special test step or the ability to create integrations and other functionality, will find the new plug-in architecture fun to work with.”

About SoapUI Pro
SoapUI Pro by SmartBear is the most used API testing tool in the world with over six million downloads and is loaded with advanced technologies and features not found in other test tools. A free version is available as an open source application. For the latest updates, follow @soapui on Twitter or for more information, including a free trial, visit: http://www.smartbear.com/soapui.

About SmartBear Software

Supporting more than six million software professionals and over 22,000 companies in 194 countries, SmartBear is the leader in software quality tools for teams. The company’s products help deliver the highest quality and best performing software possible while helping teams ship code at nearly impossible velocities. With products for API testing, UI testing, code review and performance monitoring across mobile, web and desktop applications, SmartBear equips every development, testing and operations team member with the tools to ensure quality at every stage of the software cycle. For more information, visit: http://smartbear.com, or for the SmartBear community, go to: LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook.